Copy-holder



' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. H. POTTER & N. J. PORTNEYV COPY HOLDER.

No. 499,801. Patented June 20, 1893.

Em Arid fl g?? 6. 6/6 .1 e1, w jzs ca or I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. H. POTTER & N. J. FORTNEY.

COPY HOLDER.

Patent-ed June 20, 1893 IIJQGIJIESFS QIZIL'YHPOZZZQI;

States, residing at Kingwood, in

Herr-ran Tamas Ararrr rrrca.

HENRY H. POTTER AND NEIL J. FORTNEY, OF KINGVVOOD, \VEST VIRGINIA.

COPY-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 499,801,dated June 20, 1893. Application filed January 25, 1893. Serial No. 459,702. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY H. POTTER and NEIL J. FORTNEY, citizens of the United the county of Preston and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Copy-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to copy holders of that class generally used by type-writercopyists, and forms an improvement on Patent No. 407,239, granted to H. H. Potter, July 16, 1889; and it hasfor its object to provide an improved movable support that carriesthe man uscript being copied upwardly therewith and causes the eye of the copyist to be directed continuously to one point, while the copy is moved step by step upwardly.

With this object in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts as a whole andin detail as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved copy holder complete. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of apart of the mechanism broken away and showing the operation of the clutches. Fig. 4 isa detail perspective View of the clamp and the upper end of the table'or support. Fig. 5 is a section on the line xx, Fig. 1, showing the manner of attaching the operating lever. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the spacing gage.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 i designates the supporting frame, which consists of a base bar 2, disposed in such manner as to assume a rear oblique position, and to the one end thereof is connected a 1ongitudinal bar 3, extending at right angles to the said base bar and projecting a greater distance in front of the same. Secured to the base bar 2 are a pair of braces 4, that converge toward their upper ends, and extending across the same, at the upper edge thereof and connected thereto, is a transversely-extending horizontally-disposed bridge-strip .5, having its ends turned downwardly, and connected to said downwardly-turned ends are the upperinturned ends of a suitable wire frame 6, that forms a guide for directing the eye to the line of copy to be transcribed, and has thereon a thin metallic strip 7, that presses closely against the copy under the line desired. This guide is held in a stationary manner and is placedv at such an elevation as to facilitate and assist the eye of the copyist in being directed to the proper point.

A guide-rod 9 extends from the base bar 2, vertically upward and is held, at its upper termination, in the bridge-strip 5, and on this guide-rod is slidingly mounted a metallic loop 10, that is rigidly connected to the lower portion of a copy or manuscript supporting table-or frame 11, constructed of suitable material and in the desired form necessary for the intended purpose. Attached to the lower end ofthe table or support 11, adjacent to the loop 10, is another loop 12, in which is rigidly secured the lower end of a rod 13, that passes upwardly and loosely through an opening 14, in the bridge strip 5, and has its upper end rigidly secured in a socket 15, located at the upper end of the table or support 11. The rod 13 is parallel with the rod 9 and is centrally located on the table or support 11, and is engaged by a pair of clutch-arms 16 and 17, that act to bitethereon and hold the table or support 11 in its adjusted elevated position. The clutch-arm 16 has an opening 18 in one end thereof that is larger than the diameter of the rod 13, and the upper outer edge-portion of said opening 18'loites against the said rod 13, When the said clutch-arm 16 is elevated, and thereby feeds the said rod 13,

with its table or support 11, upwardly in accordance with a predetermined adj ustment. The clutch-arm 17 is in like manner provided with an opening 19 in one end thatbites against the rod 13, that is, the wall thereof is so positioned as to engage said rod and prevent the latter from slipping downward, and thereby sustain the adjustment of the table or support produced by theoperation of the clutch-arm 16. The outer end of the clutcharm 17 is movably mounted in the adjacent brace 4, by passing through a slot in the lat-' ter, and is-held at a proper downward inclination to produce the biting effect desired by means of a spring 20, that has one end thereof secured to the said clutch-arm and is formed with a coil and bears against and is attached to the aforesaid adjacent brace 4. The said clutch-arm 17 is also formed with a slot 21 29 the longitudinal bar 3 and the lever 30 may therein that extends vertically therethrough intermediate of the ends thereof, and through which freely passes the upper projecting end of a connecting bar 22, that is also located in a slot at the rear portion of the clutch-arm 16, and pivotally connected to the latter. In order to sustain the said clutch-arm 16 at the proper downward inclination, the rear under portion of the same is engaged by the loop of a spring 23, that is secured to the pivot of the said clutch-arm 16, and also engages the connecting bar 22,below the said clutch-arm. The lower end of the connecting bar 22 is movabl y attached to the inner end of a transversely-disposed lever 24, having a pivot fulcrum 25, and adjacent to the outer end thereof formed with a slot 26 in the upper edge thereof. Outside of the pivot-fulcrum of the said lever 24 is located a spring 27, that presses upwardly against the lower edge of the said lever and normally tends to force the inner lower end thereof downwardly in order to always return the connecting bar 21 to its normal lowered position after it has been operated to actuate. the clutch-arm 16 in the operation of elevating the table or support 11. A guide 28' is located against the outer end of the said lever 24, on the front side thereof, and the connecting-screw 29 that holds the same in posit-ion also secures the spring 27 and attaches the base bar 2 to the longitudinal bar 3. The office of thisiguide is to cause engagement with the slot 26 in the upper edge of the lever 24, by the rear portion of the lower edge of an elongated Operating lever 30, that is likewise provided with a slot 31, that coacts with the slot 26 in the lever 24, to cause the said parts when in en gagement to produce a firm contact and obviate slipping from position. The rear end of the lever 30 is pivotally mounted in a yoke 32, that has a screw-threaded shank rotatably located in the rear portion of the longitudinal bar 3, whereby the said lever 30 may be moved laterally and make it convenient of attachment, as well as for the purpose of positioning the contact thereof at a diiferent point on the lever 24, for a purpose which will be presently explained. The opposite end of the lever 30 is given a half-twist, and being constructed of flat metal, this operation forms a pressure plate or handle 33, by which the.

said lever 30 may be conveniently operated.

It will be seen that the longitudinal bar 3 is of such length, and the lever 30 proportionately positioned thereto, as to bring the engaging end of the. latter in convenient proximity to the copyist, and at the same time sustain the holder in a stable position. Further, by means of the single connecting-screw be quickly detached and placed against the back of the table or support, and thereby render the device entire in compact form for transportation or storage.

To regulate the feed of the table or support 11, proportionately to the line-space thereon, a gage 34 is applied to the longitudinal bar 3, and consists of a sheet-metal plate with downwardly-bent side-flanges to closely engage the opposite sides of the longitudinal bar 3, and is also provided with a finger-piece 35, at the front end thereof by which the said gage may be moved on the said bar 3, and at the rear thereof is formed with an upwardly-projecting stop-finger 36, that is positioned at a proper rearward oblique angle, and the upper end thereof is adapted to be engaged by the under edge of the operating lever 30, and therebylimit the downward movement of the said operating lever if the said finger be located adjacent to the bar 2, and increase the downward stroke of said lever as the said finger and the gage carrying the same are moved outwardly toward the front end of the said bar 3.

At about the center of the base bar 2 is formed a socket 37, in which is mounted a rubber or other suitable buffer or cushion 38, that projects above the top surface of the said bar 2 and receives the impact of the blow of the lower end of the loop 12, to which the rod 13 is secured, when the table or support 11 is caused to fall in returning the device to its normal position, and thereby sudden jarring and concussion are avoided.

At the upper end of the table or supportll is mounted a copy-holding clip, which preferably consists of a wire frame having upwardly-proj ecting rearwardly-disposed loops 40, at the opposite ends thereof, connected by a bar 41, that extends across the upper portion of the table or support, and on the said bar is mounted a series of enveloping elastic tubesections that are adapted to contact with the copy or manuscript and hold the same in position, as at 42. The ends of theloops 40 are rotatably mounted in horizontally-disposed bearings 43, secured to the upper rear portion of the table or support 11, and surrounding said ends, outside of said bearings, are coiled springs 44, that have their opposite ends re spectively bearing against the rear side of the table or support and attached to the said bar 41, to thereby hold the latter normallyin close position against the upper portion of the table or support. This is the preferred form of clip, but it will be understood that the ordinary form of plain metallic clip may be used it so desired, as the efliciency and advantage of the device entire are not necessarily dependent upon any special form of clip, though as stated that specifically described is preferred.

In operation the manuscript or copy is placed against the table or support 11, and held at its upper end by the clip, with the guide, formed by the wire frame 6 and metallic strip 7, in proper position thereover, it being understood that this guide may be adjusted outwardly by being pivoted at its ends to compensate for the bulk of the said copy or manuscript. The gage 34 is then properly set on the longitudinal bar 3 to properly adjust the stroke of the operatinglever30 to the line'space of the copy or manuscript, and as one line after another is transcribed, the operation will be made conveniently continuous by depressing the'said operating lever 30 to operate the clutch-arm 16. and elevate the table or support 11 the proper distance. Then a page of copy or manuscript has been completelytranscribed the lever 30 is elevated until it is disengaged from the slot 26 in the lever 24, and is slightly turned outwardly and brought to bear on an adjacent portion of said lever 2- and clear of the plane of contact with the upwardly-projecting finger 36 of the gage 34. This position of the lever 30 necessarily increases its throw and causes the clutch-arm 16 to elevate completely upto and raise the clutch-arm 17, thereby clearing both of said clutch-arms from contact with the rod 13,and permitting the table or support to drop by gravity to its lowermost position. It will be understood that when this latter operation has been completed, and the lever 30 allowed to return to its normal position in elevation, the clutch arms 16 and 17 will be again restored automatically to their proper positions, to cause a line-space feeding of the table or support, as first set forth, it being understood, of course, that the lever 30 will have again been adjusted so as to be in the plane of contact with the finger 36 of the gage 34.

It will be understood that the device as a whole may be suitably ornamented and increased or decreased in size as found necessary and applicable for different purposes, and that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described this invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a copy holder, the combination of a frame having a guide-rod thereon, a table or support freely movable vertically on said frame and havinga rod attached thereto parallel with said guide-rod,a clutch mechanism engaging said rod on the table or support, a lever mechanism for operating said .clutch mechanism, and an adjustable gage for controlling the movement of said lever mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In a copy holder, the combination of a vertically-adj ustable table or support, a clutch mechanism for adjusting said table or support, a horizontal transversely-extending lever connected to said clutch mechanism, an operating lever extending transversely across and loosely engaging the outer end of the aforesaid lever and adapted to be moved laterally, and a gage having an upwardly-projecting finger in the plane of contact of said operating lever to adjust the movement thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a copy holder, the combination of a aforesaid lever and extending across the same at right angles, substantially as described.

4. In a copy holder, the combination of a frame having a lower transversely-arranged base bar and an elongated longitudinally-dis,-

posed bar at one end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a table or support adjustably mounted in connection with said frame, clutch mechanism in connection with said frame for elevating the same step by step, a leverage mechanism for operating said clutch mechanism, and a gage adjustably mounted on the aforesaid longitudinal bar for regulating the throw of the leverage mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In a copy holder, the combination of a frame having a base bar, a rubber or elastic bulfer or cushion mounted in the upper surface of said base bar, a table or support adjustably mounted in connection with said frame, and means for raising said frame step by step and lowering the same, substantially as described.

6. In a copy holder, the combination of a table or support adapted to be moved vertically,'a clutch mechanism for operating said table or support and located in rear thereof and transversely of the same, and an adjustable leverage for actuating said clutch mechanism, substantially as described. 7

7. In a copy holder, the combination of a vertically movable table or support, a clutch mechanism for adjusting said. table or support, a lever connected to said clutch mechanism, an operating lever having its rear end pivotally mounted and laterally movable loosely engaging and extending across the outer end of the aforesaid lever, and a gage for limiting the downward throw of the said operating lever, substantially as described.

8. In a copy holder, the combination of a frame having a vertically-disposed guide-rod, a table or support movably mounted against said frame and having a rod centrally connected thereto and extending vertically thereof, a pair of clutch-arms arranged at a downward inclination at one of their ends and separated from each other, said clutch-arms being provided with openings engaging the rod on the table or support and the uppermost one having a slot therein, a connecting bar pivotally attached to the lowermost clutch-arm and having an end thereof extending through the slot in the uppermost clutch-arm, a lever pivotally attached to the lower end of the connecting bar and extending transversely of the device, and an operating lever extending transversely across and loosely-engaging the outer free end of the aforesaid lever, substantially as described.

9. In a copy holder, the combination of a disposcd lever connected to said clutch-arm,

and having the outer end thereof provided with a slot located in the upper edge of the.

same, a guide adjacently situated to said outer end of the lever, and an operating lever adapted to be moved laterally and having a slot in the under edge thereof adapted to engage the slot of the aforesaid lever, substantially as described.

10. In a copy holder, the combination of a lowered, mechanism for operating the table.

or support, a frame comprising abase-bar and an extended longitudinal bar removably attached to the end of said base-bar and located at right angles thereto, and a single screw passing through a portion of the base-bar and longitudinal bar, whereby the said longitudinal bar may be detached and placed against the rear of the table or support for compact storage, substantially as described.

1]. In a copy holder, the combination of a frame, a table or support adj ustably mounted thereon, mechanism for operating said table or support, and an elongated longitudinallydisposed bar attached to one end of the lower portion of the frame and extending forwardly therefrom to form a convenient means of support, substantially as described.

12. In combination with a vertically-mov-- able table or support, a frame for the same,

mechanism for operating the said table or support, a longitudinal bar connected to one end of the lower portion of the frame and extending at a right angle thereto, an operating lever attached to said longitudinally-disposed bar, and a gageadjustablyand removably applied to said longitudinal bar and adapted to co-operate with the said lever to control the downward throw of the latter, substantially as described.

13. In combination with a vertically-adjustable table or support, a frame. supporting the same, mechanism for operating said table or support, an operatinglever for operating the said mechanism, alongitudinally-disposed .bar to which said operating lever is movably attached, and a sheet-metal gage removably and adj ustably engaging said longitudinal bar and having an upwardly-projecting finger at the rear portion thereof and downwardlyprojecting side flanges which takeover the opposite edges of said longitudinal bar, substantially as described.

'14. In a copy'holder, the combination of a table or support, and a paper-holdingclip at the top portion thereof consisting of a wire frame having end loops of elongated form extending upwardly and obliquely rearward and the ends thereof removably mountedin bearings attached to the rear side of said table or support, and a front bar having an elastic covering thereon, and coiled springs encircling the ends of said device and having the ends thereof engaging the back of the table or sup- HENRY H. POTTER. NEIL J. FORTNEY.

Witnesses:

J. W. WATSON, JULIUS K. Mormon. 

